Copper is an essential mineral for many bodily functions, such as the production of enzymes that help the cells in your body function properly. Copper also is involved in the absorption and use of iron in the body. When copper is deficient in the body, symptoms of iron and copper deficiency become similar to each other. Often when anemia is suspected, health-care providers recommend iron supplementation and don't consider having you increase your copper intake to correct for anemia.
Symptoms of Deficiency
Symptoms include weakness, anemia, skin sores, cholesterol problems, immune system impairment and difficulty with breathing. Copper deficiency is rare but can develop in people who have had malabsorptive surgeries to promote weight loss, infants and children on a high cow's milk diet and people suffering from Menkes disease.
Effects
Infants deficient in copper exhibit failure to thrive, which is characterized by low growth in height, pale skin and irregular heart beats. Children born prematurely can experience rapid growth and have an increased need for copper. In adults, osteoporosis and thyroid disorders can result, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Adults who have received total parenteral nutrition, or feeding through the veins, along with people who have had weight-loss surgeries have an increased risk of developing copper deficiency.
Sources
Copper can be found in nuts, seeds, beans and legumes, liver and organ meats, the germ of grains and shellfish. Cow's milk is void of copper and can leach this mineral as well as iron, promoting anemia and deficiency of both minerals.
Recommendations
The recommended daily allowance for copper ranges by age and is meant to prevent deficiency of the mineral. Infants up to 12 months of age need between 200 to 220mcg of copper. Children up to the age of 8 require between 340 to 440mcg per day. Males up to the age of 13 and females up to the age of 13 require 700mcg of copper per day. Both male and females up to the age of 18 require 890mcg of copper per day. After the age of 19, both males and females require 900mcg per day, with a tolerable limit up to 10,000mcg per day. According to Vitamin and Herb University, copper is safe for most animals and humans. Toxicity is rare but can manifest over a long time with the development of cirrhosis of the liver and damage to the tubes of the kidneys and brain.
